Now imagine you want to ask your AI assistant a simple question while cooking and instead of having to type - you just talk.
It whispers back, shows you a map and keeps the convo going like you’re talking to a friend.
That’s now doable with ChatGPT, which got a major update that combines your voice-based commentary and the text output into one continuous chat session.
Voice chat meant switching to a special “voice-mode,” essentially abandoning the default chat screen for a blue-orb audio interface. That was always kind of like starting a new conversation – context gone, flow disrupted.
But now: no more going back and forth. Text or mic, you’re always in the same chat.
ChatGPT can even flow voice responses alongside typed text and present rich context with visuals, including images, maps or weather – all in real time.
You can do so now, as 1.3 is available globally and supports mobile and web platforms. If you’re on a phone or laptop, simply update your app and the new Voice mode will now be in place as the default.
Prefer the old-school setup? No worries, there’s a setting to switch back to “Separate mode” still available under Settings.
What is especially neat: This isn’t merely a trick of convenience. It’s about voice, visual feedback and text all in one place, which can make certain tasks vastly easier.”
Cooking with a recipe, for example: you can verbally request the measurements and see it demonstrated via a visual chart, or visiting an unfamiliar place and asking ChatGPT for directions while viewing them on a live map; think of everything hands-free experience systematically.
On a personal note, I believe this will be a milestone in how AI seems more human. In the past, AI assistants tended to be half-robotic: you write something, it writes you back.
This is how ChatGPT gets that little bit of warmth and fluidity. It’s not flawless (let’s be real, some of the visuals are still a bit slow on the uptake) but when it works, it’s almost eerily natural.
That of course raises new questions about privacy and how our voice data is processed, however since the platform’s been promising transparency (such as transcripts are kept alongside audio for review) it feels like they’re giving people what they need to remain in control.
If you’ve ever challenged yourself to type with one hand while balancing groceries or driving – or even cooking – well, this may be the update for which you’ve waited.